Johnsonville recalling 110,000 pounds of smoked sausage because it may contain plastic

Johnsonville is recalling 109,603 pounds of smoked sausage products "that may be contaminated with extraneous materials," the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service said Thursday.(Photo: Gary C. Klein/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)

Sheboygan Falls-based Johnsonville LLC is recalling 109,603 pounds of smoked sausage products "that may be contaminated with extraneous materials," the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service said Thursday.

"The problem was discovered after the firm received three consumer complaints for pieces of hard, green plastic identified in the sausage product," the USDA said in a statement announcing the recall.

Johnsonville received three calls to its consumer hotline about the issue and, based on that information, it immediately launched an investigation and recall, said Kelly Seifert, a company spokeswoman.

The recalled product amounts to 12,500 cases and represents a fraction of Johnsonville's overall production.

The investigation is continuing, Seifert said.

"There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products," according to the statement. "Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase."